Janowitz, Morris. The Professional Soldier: A Social and Political Portrait. New York: The Free Press, 1971.

“In his social profile of the professional soldier, Janowitz develops the basic distinction between “absolutist” and “pragmatist” approaches. Warfare – actual or potential – is the basis of international relations and “total victory” is the goal of wars, according to the “absolute” American military doctrine. Warfare is only one of three tools of international relations; the other two are economic and ideological; and various combinations of the three elementary tools, states the “pragmatic” school. The absolute school stresses pre-emptive or retaliatory war. The pragmatic school emphasizes the need to be prepared for limited wars.

Janowitz analyzes the substantive differences between the two schools, especially their orientation toward banning nuclear tests and toward various types of new weapons and in their evaluation of allies.”

– From a review in Political Science Quarterly. 

Online:
Amazon